GOP senator says buildings shouldn't be named after living politicians - USA Today

Public officials including U.S. presidents should be barred from having a building named after them while they are still living, Sen. John Kennedy said on Sept. 27.

During an appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation," the Louisiana Republican told interviewer Margaret Brennan "we ought to have a rule that no politician can have a building named after him when he’s alive. I think that would settle a lot of this controversy."

Kennedy's comments came as President Donald Trump continues to fight to add his name to the Kennedy Center performing arts venue in Washington, a move that has become subject to an ongoing legal dispute.

The Kennedy Center closed after its board – made up mostly of members picked by Trump – voted on Sept. 15 to shut its doors in an apparent effort to prepare for renovations. Trump began pushing to take over the performing arts center in his second term when he appointed himself as the center's chair.

Sen. Kennedy also told Brennan public officials should not “spend public money on private ads for themselves."

An ad promoting Trump, funded by taxpayer money, has aired on multiple networks in the lead-up to November's midterm elections. In it, the president warns a "final battle" to defeat "the deep state."

Federal law prohibits public money appropriated by Congress from paying for political advertisements. The White House defended the ad, calling it a "public service announcement" and saying it is not political because Trump is not on the November ballot.

“The White House sees it differently, but I don't," Kennedy said. "You can’t spend public money to … promote yourself.”

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.